Singer-songwriter Livingston Taylor returns to the Freight stage to lift our spirits and engage our minds with his well- crafted, melodic, intelligent folk with pop sensibilities. An unrepentant romantic armed with razor-sharp wit and a quirky view of the world, the Boston-based artist spices up his impeccable musical performances with wry humor and a warm stage presence.

We guarantee a room full of tapping toes and plucked heartstrings when the Flatt and Scruggs Tribute Band pays tribute to one of the most popular and influential bluegrass bands of all time, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and the Foggy Mountain Boys. For tonight’s special concert, the tribute band plus special guests Don Rigsby and Kathy Kallick celebrate Scruggs’ 88th birthday. Don’t miss what promises to be a truly memorable evening!

Join roots music revivalists Sourdough Slim and Robert Armstrong in celebrating the release of their new CD, Oh, Sweet Mama! Sourdough and Robert are passionate about the music they play and the culture from which it springs.

All
performers
are welcome to participate in this event that has produced
some of our brightest performers, including: Shawn Colvin, Dana Carvey,
Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Patrick Landeza.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS!
One unique aspect of our Open Mic is that, unlike those held in noisy
bars where people show up in spite of the fact that there's live music,
you will be playing to a supportive group of friends and performers who
are actually listening!!!

One of the world's truly extraordinary guitarists, Frank Vignola brings his jaw-dropping technique for a not-to-be-missed concert. Joined tonight by youthful guitar ace Vinny Raniolo, Frank demonstrates the stunning virtuosity that has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world's top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, and the late guitar legend Les Paul, who included Frank in his "Five Most Admired Guitar List."

The inimitable Joe Craven returns to our stage with a power trio of northern California musical veterans to celebrate the release of the group’s new CD, All Four One. Featuring Kendrick Freeman on drumset, percussion, and vocals, John R. Burr on keyboards, and Joe himself on mandolin, fiddle, vocals, and anything else he can lay his hands on, the group performs original compositions by the members.

Sarita Pockell and Melita Doostan, of Octopretzel fame, host this morning’s edition of the Patchwork Series of kids’ shows, featuring the theatrical singing and tomfoolery of Rude Dog Duo and the captivating cadences of Crosspulse Rhythm Duo.

Brilliant lyricist and storyteller, virtuoso singer, fiddler, and guitarist, and undisputed master of the hammered dulcimer, John McCutcheon runs the gamut from kid's songs to protest anthems to updates of his Appalachian and Midwestern roots mixed with stunning originals.

Thrill to the impressive chops and powerhouse vocals of the next generation in bluegrass when The Tuttles with AJ Lee take the stage! They may look young, but don't let it fool you; with several years of performing and a new, self-titled CD under their belts, this group is ready and willing to knock your socks off with an evening of high-powered, fresh-faced bluegrass.

Check
out the future when the West Coast Songwriters presents its monthly
Songwriter Competition, where members take the stage and perform their
material. Performers sign up from 7:00 to 7:20, and at 7:30 the show’s
on! Guest judges award a “Best Song” and “Best Performance.” The most
active songwriters’ association in the United States, WCS is dedicated
to providing the environment, opportunities, and tools to nurture and
promote songwriters.

Boston-based string band Joy Kills Sorrow brings a decidedly modern sensibility to an old-world sound, channeling the prodigious talents of its individual members into elegant arrangements and well-crafted songs. While the group pays due homage to its bluegrass roots—its name is taken from WJKS, a radio station that hosted the Monroe brothers' show in the 1930s—the band truly excels in its rich and textured treatment of more contemporary material.

Two captivating folksingers, Rick Shea and Mary McCaslin, bring to the stage their solo talents, then join forces for a set of music from Mary's famed duo with the late Jim Ringer, featuring songs from their landmark 1978 album, The Bramble & the Rose.

Come hear an inspiring performance by the classical component of the world-renowned Berkeley High music program, a stunning showcase for its talented young players. The evening features an array of small groupings–brass choir and string quartet to solos and duets–by musicians from Berkeley High School’s orchestra and band programs, under the direction of Karen Wells.

California Zephyr brings its eclectic blend of American roots music to the Freight. A fresh mixture of folk, rock, jazz, swing, country, bluegrass, and more, with a little extra dollop of twang thrown in for good measure, Zephyr's repertoire includes originals and unique takes on classic favorites, with the spotlight on tunes from their recent CD, Above the Timberline.

Come join us for our Winter Community Open House! Music fills the Freight from ceiling to roof as we throw open our doors from noon to 4:00 pm today for a free, family-friendly musical celebration featuring an array of performances and workshops which highlight the Freight’s amazing teaching staff and their students! Join in the fun & bring your posse for workshops, performances, & you jamming with your musical community.

With Lou squeezing accordion and Peter on guitar, this Madison, Wisconsin-based duo brings down the house in a unique tour de farce blending midwestern culture with street-smart savvy, demonstrating why they are possibly the funniest songwriters extant.

The Great Night of Rumi celebrates the 13th Century Persian poet Jelaluddin Rumi along with fellow mystic poets Kabir, Hafez, and Rabindranath Tagore, bringing their moving works vividly to life through a richly woven tapestry of spoken word, music, and dance.

All
performers
are welcome to participate in this event that has produced
some of our brightest performers, including: Shawn Colvin, Dana Carvey,
Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Patrick Landeza.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS!
One unique aspect of our Open Mic is that, unlike those held in noisy
bars where people show up in spite of the fact that there's live music,
you will be playing to a supportive group of friends and performers who
are actually listening!!!

Jim Malcolm is unquestionably one of the finest Scots traditional singers of his generation. He has a beautiful, rich voice and the powerful ability to deliver vibrant yet purely authentic-sounding music, whether he's singing an ancient Scots song in the original vernacular, a familiar tune with his own lyrical update, or one of his original compositions.

Two great bands, the George Cole Quintet and Fishtank Ensemble, kick off the Esprit de Django et Stephane Festival with a night of hot, hot jazz and high-energy originals, spiced with plenty of genre-bending cross-pollination.

Master swing fiddlers Paul Anastasio and Paul Shelasky, with the irrepressible Tony Marcus on guitar and vocals, round out the Esprit de Django et Stephane Festival with a tasty evening of hot swing, torchy ballads, and blues.

Welsh troubadour Martyn Joseph triggers powerful emotions when he takes the stage. This charismatic singer-songwriter’s edgy, intense songs lead audiences across some of the darker terrains of life, documenting the sorrow and injustice in the world, yet all the while lighting the way with enduring hope and an irrepressibly droll sense of humor.

Rushad Eggleston stands in the vanguard of the younger generation of virtuosic cellists who are bringing this relatively unwieldy instrument into the spotlight. It's anyone's guess what may happen when Rushad takes the stage, but we do guarantee one thing: a night of fabulously inventive, supremely virtuosic, endlessly surprising music. Rushad never fails to knock his listeners' socks off as he ushers them in a joyful, eccentric alternate reality.

We are sold out of advance tickets for this show. There may be some limited standing room only tickets available once the show starts at 8:00 pm for $28.50.

Roots rocker Dave Alvin brings us the burning, guitar-centered blues from his new CD, Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc). Returning to the style of music that defined his early career, Dave performs rockin tunes with vivid stories that extend from R&B royalty to labor history to Harlan County, Kentucky.

Wearing period threads and playing vintage instruments, the Cheap Suit Serenaders serve up a giddy blend of up-tempo Hawaiian stomps, ragtime, Italian polkas, and more, as they recreate the music of the golden age of jazz. With ukuleles, Hawaiian steel guitars, fiddles, cellos, banjos, mandolins, accordions, and musical saws in hand, Tony Marcus, Terry Zwigoff, Robert Armstrong, Allan Dodge, and Rick Elmore bring alive great music and great times!

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters’ new CD, Hello Cruel World, spotlights a series of spare, evocative tunes filled with poetic imagery, and warmed by the earthy maturity of her honey-sweet voice.

All
performers
are welcome to participate in this event that has produced
some of our brightest performers, including: Shawn Colvin, Dana Carvey,
Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Patrick Landeza.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS!
One unique aspect of our Open Mic is that, unlike those held in noisy
bars where people show up in spite of the fact that there's live music,
you will be playing to a supportive group of friends and performers who
are actually listening!!!

Prepare yourself for a night of roof-raising music when all-gal old-time teardown the Stairwell Sisters and traditional bluegrass outfit True Blue 2 take the stage as part of the San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival!

In collaboration with the Jazzschool, we present a tribute to the late legendary Bay Area drummer Eddie Marshall featuring many of the original players from his hard-swinging band of the early ‘90s—Peck Allmond (trumpet and saxes), Kenny Brooks (tenor sax), Mark Levine (piano), and Jeff Chambers (bass) as featured on the Bay Area Jazz Archives double CD, Eddie Marshall: Jazz at Filoli 1992—plus Akira Tana on drums.

Among the Bay Area's most vibrant and accomplished proponents of a cappella singing styles rooted in African-American culture, Talk of da Town brings down the house with their sizzling renditions of the greatest hits of R&B, Motown, and doo-wop, plus a few gospel tunes for good measure. We dare you to try and sit still for this show!

The David Thom Band serves up its bluegrass with a tight, classic sound that never fails to tingle the spine and set the toes a-tappin. Fresh, invigorating, and breezy, the band's sound is true to the genre's soulful traditions while staying current with side trips into folk- and country-flavored americana.

Check
out the future when the West Coast Songwriters presents its monthly
Songwriter Competition, where members take the stage and perform their
material. Performers sign up from 7:00 to 7:20, and at 7:30 the show’s
on! Guest judges award a “Best Song” and “Best Performance.” The most
active songwriters’ association in the United States, WCS is dedicated
to providing the environment, opportunities, and tools to nurture and
promote songwriters.

Following triumphant appearances at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Italy's premier bluegrass band makes its Freight debut! Berkeley's own Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum are on hand to round out what promises to be a memorable evening of bluegrass and beyond.

Winners of the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year, Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala create angelic harmonies. Performing a mix of beguiling, pop-inflected originals and intriguing interpretations of others' tunes, the two charm listeners with their trademarked lush harmonies.

As he was born on February 29, 1792, we can only wish Giachino happy birthday on leap years! Join the musical merriment with noted soprano Marta Johansen and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All-Stars: Eugene Chuklov and Elizabeth Choi (violins), Ben Simon (viola), Eugene Sor (cello), and Michel Taddei (double bass).

All
performers
are welcome to participate in this event that has produced
some of our brightest performers, including: Shawn Colvin, Dana Carvey,
Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Patrick Landeza.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS!
One unique aspect of our Open Mic is that, unlike those held in noisy
bars where people show up in spite of the fact that there's live music,
you will be playing to a supportive group of friends and performers who
are actually listening!!!

Warning: the mellifluous outfit Leftover Dreams plucks heartstrings and sets spirits soaring with its evocative renditions of carefully chosen gems from the "great American songbook." Tony Marcus is a dazzling violin and guitar soloist and a superb vocalist who has been bringing down the house for years in ineffably dapper performances with Cats & Jammers and the Cheap Suit Serenaders. His singing partner, the lovely Patrice Haan, adds her rich, sultry voice and warm charisma.

If great tunes, world-class musicianship, and a seriously irresistible swing are your menu items of choice, make sure not to miss this show as singer and guitarist Don Burnham and his new group, the Bolos, set the house jumping for one heck of a musical evening.

All
performers
are welcome to participate in this event that has produced
some of our brightest performers, including: Shawn Colvin, Dana Carvey,
Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Patrick Landeza.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS!
One unique aspect of our Open Mic is that, unlike those held in noisy
bars where people show up in spite of the fact that there's live music,
you will be playing to a supportive group of friends and performers who
are actually listening!!!

A leading force in contemporary bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent has won the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) award for Female Vocalist of the Year no less than seven times. It’s no wonder folks like the Wall Street Journal have dubbed her the "new queen of bluegrass." Bridging the gap between bluegrass and mainstream country music with her hard-driving, high-energy performances, Rhonda is currently on tour promoting her latest CD, Taken.

Mandolin powerhouse John Reischman and his Jaybirds perform some of
the finest, hardest-driving bluegrass you're likely to hear anywhere,
drawing material from both traditional masters such as the Blue Sky Boys
and Ralph Stanley, and contemporary artists such as Gillian Welch.

Melita Doostan and Rudy Trubitt host this morning’s edition of the Patchwork Series of kids’ shows, featuring the high-energy, fresh and funky Alphabet Rockers and the rootsy, hip sounds of Orange Sherbet.

Dublin-born singer-songwriter Melanie O'Reilly leads listeners on a "Celtic-jazz" journey as she explores a unique soundscape that fuses the lyricism of Irish poetry with the improvisation of American jazz. Backing Melanie tonight are some very special guests, including John R. Burr (piano), Fred Randolph (bass), Rebecca Kleinman (flute), percussionist Ian Dogole, Darcy Noonan on fiddle, and Sean O Nuallain on guitar.

Give your March an extra boost by joining brothers David & Kieran Munnelly for an evening of
Irish merrymaking at its best! This joyful performance features
instrumental and vocal music-making from top Irish traditional
musicians—and brothers—David, a wizard on the button accordion, and
flute and bodhran artist Kieran.

Join us for an evening of performances by two top Jazzschool Institute groups!

The Jazzschool Insitute Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of
Keith Johnson, is dedicated to hard-swinging classic and cutting-edge
contemporary big band music. A traditional big band format, the ensemble
is comprised of a rhythm section (piano, bass, drums, guitar) and a
horn section with up to twelve students.

Judging by his Brylcreem-parted hair, high-waisted pants, and
spellbinding voice full of existential anguish, listeners might think
that Frank Fairfield stepped straight from the Appalachian mountains of a
century ago. Far from it: the 25-year-old native of California's
central valley spent his early career busking in the streets of Los
Angeles with his fiddle and banjo before signing with the New York folk
music label Tompkins Square and garnering national attention opening for
Fleet Foxes on their 2008 tour.

Remarkable energy, fresh perspectives, and superlative musicianship have sent Solas to the top of Irish music in just a few short years, with scores of fans on both sides of the Atlantic and three consecutive awards from the Association for Independent Music for Best Celtic Recording. With their striking penchant for creative arranging and distinctive choice of material, the members of Solas offer a highly original, contemporary view of Irish music.

Shay and Michael Black celebrate St. Patrick's Day with their traditional Freight concert brimming with lilting harmonies, catchy rhythms, and superb musicianship. The brothers’ infectious humor, wit, and unalloyed joy in performing, plus their propensity for inviting the audience to join in the chorus on sing-along favorites like "Down Our Street" and "The Great Storm is Over," make it difficult for anyone to remain a spectator for long!

The resident woodwind quintet of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, the Golden West Woodwind Quartet engages audiences of all ages with their dynamic chamber music performances. With a repertoire ranging from the early 1800s to the present day, these five accomplished musicians perform standards of classical quintet literature and contemporary works, as well as marches and patriotic selections.

Join the Students Rock Foundation for their second annual benefit concert featuring co-headliners Kevin Beadles Band and the Jolly Gibsons, as well as Andrea Hurley and her Very Attractive Band, and Berkeley-based comedian Jacob Rubin as master of ceremonies. With proceeds going toward Bay Area performing arts scholarships, this is a great show for a great cause!

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist, John Gorka is one of the sharpest observers on the block, and one of folk music's most distinctive singers. The killer combination of John’s stunningly soulful baritone and his evocative lyrics are sure to raise goosebumps as he parlays his rich, multi-faceted songs full of depth, beauty, and emotion.

The fabulous brass players of the SFBQ return to our stage with a program featuring their customary mix of old, new, borrowed, and blue. John Pearson and James Dooley on trumpet, Doug Hull on horn, Craig McAmis on trombone, and Forrest Byram on tuba offer a varied program of exciting music that is guaranteed to chase the winter blues away.

Check
out the future when the West Coast Songwriters presents its monthly
Songwriter Competition, where members take the stage and perform their
material. Performers sign up from 7:00 to 7:20, and at 7:30 the show’s
on! Guest judges award a “Best Song” and “Best Performance.” The most
active songwriters’ association in the United States, WCS is dedicated
to providing the environment, opportunities, and tools to nurture and
promote songwriters.

This event will feature East Bay women entrepreneurs pitching to an all-women judging panel. It is sponsored in part by Berkeley Startup Cluster, the City of Berkeley, and the Downtown Berkeley Association.

"These songs have a way of sneaking up on you. You may find yourself humming them, whistling them, and singing a verse to a friend. Like the songs of Woody Guthrie, they're becoming part of America." - Pete Seeger

You can bet that our dance floor will be open for business when the Junius Courtney Big Band kicks off its 50th anniversary season at the Freight! With the supremely stylish Denise Perrier providing vocals, the 19-piece aggregation invites dancers of all stripes to help launch the celebration in stomping' style.

Come on over and join the party as the Waybacks bring down the house! Self-described purveyors of acoustic mayhem, the Waybacks—guitarist James Nash, drummer Chuck Hamilton, bass player Joe Kyle Jr., and fiddler and mandolinist Warren Hood—are a quartet of virtuosos with a wide array of americana idioms at their fingertips.

Riding atop the wave of resurgent folk-rock David Berkeley has gained critical acclaim and a loyal following with his soulful, melodic voice and the vivid poetry of his songcrafting. Earthy, tender, and unpredictable, his lyrics are full of reflective moments, enticing details, and emotional impact, whether they're panoramic historical studies or intimate life portraits. As Creative Loafing magazine put it, "Berkeley crafts his songs like watercolor paintings.

All
performers
are welcome to participate in this event that has produced
some of our brightest performers, including: Shawn Colvin, Dana Carvey,
Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Patrick Landeza.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS!
One unique aspect of our Open Mic is that, unlike those held in noisy
bars where people show up in spite of the fact that there's live music,
you will be playing to a supportive group of friends and performers who
are actually listening!!!